Is it still a thing to think that eating healthy is expensive? On the one hand you have the cliché image of the broke 20-something surviving on ice sandwiches and ramen in bulk, but on the other hand those same 20-somethings are regularly choosing Chipotle over McDonald’s like nobody’s business (I am literally eating Chipotle as I write this, BTDubs).
So what’s the deal? In a fight to the death, does flavorful freshness or cold, hard cash take the cake? Well, get ready for your world to be rocked — you straight up don’t have to choose.
That’s right. Rather than wringing out your grease-soaked pores because your body is basically 75 percent dollar hamburgers, you can be living the high life with recognizable, actual food on less than a future Eleanor Roosevelt tenner a day. Need some suggestions? Peruse away, people.
Elemental Coffee
Elemental has totally mastered the art of convenience. Walk in, and two minutes later you can walk out with a homemade sandwich, a tasty side dish and a coffee or tea for pretty close to $10. Or, if sitting down’s more your style, they have salads, hot sandwiches and BYO breakfast featuring the likes of scrambled tofu, veggie sausage and real, honest-to-god bacon.
Coolgreens
I worked at Coolgreens for three years in college, and trust me, I am well aware that it’s possible to walk out of here with a $16 salad if you so choose. Seriously, though, it’s all about the ordering. A salad or wrap with five toppings will run you about $7. Add chicken, ham or turkey, and it’s another $3. Add salmon or shrimp, and it’s $4-$5. Avocado or boiled egg will cost you a ghastly $1.50. If you can’t afford to have it all, then just make a damn decision; I eat here 2-3 times a week, always get avocado, and never pay over $10.
Sauced on Paseo and Empire Slice House
Both of these local favorites have the by-the-slice game down pat. At Sauced, you can get a huge slice of pizza (equivalent to about two slices anywhere else) for a mere $3.50, with the only caveat being you have to choose from cheese, pepperoni or Italian sausage, and extra toppings are 25 cents each. At Empire, you can pick from a rotating board of topping-packed dailies, like the Brussell Westbrook (roasted garlic, bacon, caramelized onions, fennel, brussels sprouts and banana peppers) or the Fungus Among Us (Portobello, shiitake and button mushrooms with spinach and truffle oil) for $3.50 a pop. They even have a $9 lunch special featuring a slice, a side salad and a drink. Pretty solid.
Café 7
Café 7 has been a cheap, local staple for quite a few years now, and rightfully so. They basically have four menus (pizza, pasta, salads, and sandwiches) with all items running you a mere $7.35 — save the sandwiches, which are only $6.45. And this is not an, “I’ll have to order two of these things to actually be full” situation, oh no. The pizzas are about the size of a small at Hideaway and the salads are big bowl worthy; I’ve never actually eaten their pasta or sandwiches, but I imagine they’re pretty hefty too.
Thai Kitchen
Lunchtime Thai — whether you choose noodles or fried rice, chicken or pork, beef or tofu — will run you a measly $6.99. The dinner menu is more expansive, and most items are closer to $10, but let me tell you: There’s no way you’re walking away from here without a food baby.
Big Truck Tacos
There’s a reason BTT has had a diehard fan base for years, and that’s because they give you actual, authentic Mexican food for an actual, reasonable price. Tacos for $3.50; giant ass burritos for $6.75; flautas, quesadillas, gorditos and tortas, all are in the neighborhood of about $7. Plus their spicy, homemade varieties of salsa (with names like OMG and OMFG) are literally the best in the city.
Green Goodies
Home to freshly baked, delectable cupcakes, sure, but Green Goodies also serves real food to rival any local lunchtime café. Soups, salads and sandwiches are the sole repertoire, but when you do it so well you can get away with less variety. A full sandwich will run you between $8 and $9, and salads are about $7 (soups are kind of expensive at an average of $8 a bowl). They have one of my favorite veggie sandwiches in all of OKC, plus they’re friendly toward paleo followers, gluten intolerants and vegans. A-OK in my book.
S&B Burger Joint
Sliders for about $4.50, full burgers for about $8. I could do another write-up, but all the details you need are right here.
